Formation tester and pipe perforator



March 11, 1952 B. R. MOKINLEY FORMATION TESTER AND PIPE PERFORATOR 2 SHEET SSHEET 1 Filed March 29, 1947 H TTORNEY.

March 11, 1952 B. R. M KINLEY FORMATION TESTER AND PIPE PERFORATOR Filed March 29, 1947 Z'gfi 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR.

, c BaycZ RM playfatented Mar. 1 1, 1 952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FORMATION TESTER AND PIPE PERFORATOR Boyd R. McKinley, Long Beach, Calif.

Application March 29, 1947, Serial No. 738,190

- 7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a formation tester and pipe perforator wherein the formation tester, the pressure recorder, and the pipe perforator are all simultaneously run into the well as a unit, thus enabling the operator to perforate the casing, to secure the pressure at the point of perforation, and to sample the fluid in the casing, all with a single run of a tool.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel formation tester and pipe perforator wherein the pressure recorder is exposed to the pressure in the casing when the formation tester is operated to receive a sample of the fluid.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel means for firing the pipe perforator by means of a tool lowered from the surface after the formation tester and pipe perforator have been lowered to the required depth.

A feature of my invention resides in the means to admit casing pressure to the pressure recorder at the same time that the sampling device is opened or operated to receive a sample of the fluid in the well.

Another feature of my invention is to protect the pressure recorder from excessive pressures when the pipe perforator is operated and to subsequently admit pressure to the pressure recorder after excessive pressures due to the projectal method of perforating the pipe has been reduced.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a quarter sectional view of the upper portion of the formation tester.

Figure 2 is a quarter sectional view of the middle portion of the formation tester.

Figure 3 is a quarter sectional view of the lower portion of the formation tester.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lower portion of my tool, namely, the pressure recorder.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation, partly in section, of the battery tube.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the contactor.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the valve cam.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the

formation testing portion of my tool is substantially identical to my prior Patent No. 2,197,078, dated April 16, 1940, and entitled Formation Tester. In somewhat general terms, my formation tester I comprises a control head 2, a packer 3 and a ported intake sleeve 4. On the upper end of the tool, a sub 5 is provided with an upwardly extending threaded pin 6, onto which the drill pipe screws. The drill pipe is not shown since its construction is usual and well known. A control tube I depends from the sub 5 and extends downwardly into a sleeve 8 and is rotatable in this sleeve, as will be further described.

A head 9 is formed'on the lower end of the tube I and a nut I0 screws into the top of the sleeve 8 and against the head 9, thus holding the tube I in position in the sleeve. The lower end of the tube I rests on an anti-friction bearing I2, this bearing being mounted in the sleeve 8. Thus it will be evident that if the sleeve 8 is held stationary, rotation of the drill pipe will cause the tube I to rotate in the sleeve. The packer 3 is arranged immediately below the sleeve I and forms a part of this tool. On the lower end of the packer 3, I provide longitudinally slidable dogs I 3 which are urged outwardly in a tapered seat when the tool is lowered, after certain well known and usual tripmeans have been released by the action of the springs I4, as disclosed in Patent No. 2,005,- 955, and which is usual and well known in the art.

The intake sleeve 4 is provided with intake ports I5 which ports are positioned between upper and lower annular packings Iii-I! respectively. A pipe I8 screws into the lower end of the sleeve 8 and extends downwardly through the packer 3, the dog assembly I3 and screws into the upper end of the intake sleeve 4. The pipe I8 has a limited longitudinal movement through the packer, the downward movement being limited by engagement of the sleeve 8 on top of the packer 3. A sampling tube I9 extends downwardly through the tube 1, the sleeve 8, the pipe I8 and extends below this pipe into the intake sleeve 4. Ports 20 in tube I9, adjacent the lower end of the sampling tube I9 admit fluids into the sampling tube through the ports I5 when said ports and the ports 2!] are in alignment. A gradual longitudinal movement is imparted to. the sampling tube I9 by means of the following construction:

A coarse thread 2| is cut on the outside of the sampling tube I9, these threads meshing with coarse interior threads 22 which are cut in the sleeve I. The sampling tube I9 is allowed to move longitudinally in the tool and without rotation, by rotating the drill pipe, the sub 5, and the tube I, thus causing the threads 2I22 to move the sampling tube upwardly or downwardly in order to open or close the ports 20. A pipe 23 screws into the bottom of the intake sleeve 4 and extends downwardly to the pressure recording instrument 24, this instrument being enclosed either within the pipe 23, or is an extension or attached 3 part thereof. The pressure recorder 24 is usual and well known and consists of the usual diaphragms and a visible recorder and opens into the pipe 23.

A gun perforator 25 is mounted below the pipe 23 and below the pressure recorder 24 and this gun perforator is usual and well known in the art, consisting essentially of a number of radially directed bullets which are driven outwardly by an explosive charge. The explosive charges are detonated electrically.

In the pipe 23, I provide one or more valves 2% which are normally held closed by springs 27. These valves are adjacent the pressure recorder 2d and when the valves are opened, fluid pressure from the well is admitted to the pressure recorder, causing this pressure recorder to record the pressures. The valves 26 are opened by a cam .28 which is attached to or is a part of the lower end of the sampling tube i9. As this tube i9 is lowered as previously described, in order to align or communicate the ports i and 29, as previously described, the valves 26 will be cammed to an open position, thus recording the pressure in the well at the same time that a sample of the fluid is taken. The valves 26 remain in a closed position while the gun perforator 25 is operated. An electrical conductor 23 extends from an electrical contact button 38 within the sampling tube to the gun periorator and around the pressure recorder 26, substantially as shown.

A contact bar 3! is first dropped into the drill pipe in which my tool is mounted. This contact bar rests on the contact 30. A shouldered pin 32 is provided on top of the bar 3| for the purpose of removing this bar from the well after the perforator 25 has been fired. After the bar 3! has been dropped into the drill pipe, and rests on the contact 30, a battery tube 33 is lowered into the drill pipe on a cable, or the like. The battery tube is provided with contact dogs as on the lower end thereof which engage the pick-up pin 32 when the batteries reach bottom. The contact bar 31 contacts the battery in the tube 33 and an electrical current is thus sent through the bar 3!, the cable 29 and thence into the gun perforator 25 to actuate the same. The batteries in the tube 33 are placed end to end similar to the batteries in a flashlight, and one terminal of all of the batteries grounds on the outside metal tube 33 while the other terminal of all of the batteries is connected to the contact dogs 3t which engages the pin 32. When the dogs 3% engage the pin 32, an electrical charge is sent through the bar 31, thence to the button 30, and through the lead 29 to the gun perforator 25. The return leg of the electrical circuit is through the metal pipes of the tool, and thence to the metal case 33, which is engaging the metal pipes of the tool since it fits within the sampling tube I9. After the perforator has been fired, the battery tube 33 and the contact bar 31 is removed from the well, thereafter the sampling tube 19 is actuated to open the ports 20 and the valves 26, thus obtaining a sample of the fluid in the well, and also its pressure.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a formation tester, in- I eluding an intake sleeve having holes extending laterally into the same, a sampling tube longitudinally slidable in said intake sleeve, said tube having an intake port therein alignable with said sampling tube to said control head, a pipe con nected at its ends to said intake sleeve and control head, respectively, the sampling tube extending through said pipe and control head, casing wall gripping means non-rotatably mounted on said pipe operable to grip the surrounding casing and hold the control head and intake sleeve against rotation, said threaded means on the control head imparting longitudinal movement to the tube relative toisaid control head and intake sleeve on rotation of said tube relative to the control head, to open and close said hole in the intake sleeve to admit fluid, a second pipe depending from the intake sleeve, a pressure recorder mounted below said intake sleeve and on the second pipe, valve means in the second pipe to admit fluid pressure to said pressure recorder, and means on the sampling tube operable on longitudinal movement of said tube to open said valve means.

2. In combination with a formation tester, including an intake sleeve having holes extending laterally into the same, a sampling tube longitudinally slidable in said'intake sleeve, said tube having an intake port therein alignable with said holes on longitudinal movement of the tube, a control head, threaded means coupling the sampling tube to said control head, a pipe connected at its ends to said intake sleeve and control head respectively, the sampling tube extending through said pipe and control head, casing wall gripping means non-rotatably mounted on said pipe operable to grip the surrounding casing and hold the control head and intake sleeve against rotation, said threaded means on the control head imparting longitudinal movement to the tube relative to said control head and intake sleeve on rotation of said tube relative to the control head, to open and close said hole in the intake sleeve to admit fluid, a second pipe depending from the intake sleeve, a pressure recorder mounted below said intake sleeve and on the second pipe, valve means in the second pipe to admit fluid pressure to said pressure recorder, and means on the sampling tube operable on longitudinal movement of said tube to open said valve means, a pipe perforator mounted on said second pipe adjacent said pressure recorder, said pipe perforator being of the gun type and firing means for said perforator.

3. In combination with a formation tester, including an intake sleeve, spaced packing means within the sleeve, said sleeve having a hole therein positioned between the packing and extending laterally through the wall of the sleeve, a sampling tube extending into the sleeve and longitudinally slidable therein, said tube having an intake port therein alignable with said hole on longitudinal movement of the tube, a control head, threaded means coupling the sampling tube to said control head, casing wall gripping means, a pipe connected at its ends to said intake sleeve and control head, respectively, said casing wall gripping means being non-rotatably mounted on said pipe and engageable with the surrounding casing to hold the control head and intake sleeve against rotation, said threaded means on the control head imparting longitudinal movement to the tube relative to said head and sleeve on rotation of said head relative to said tube to open and close the hole in the intake sleeve to admit fluid, a second pipe depending from the intake sleeve, a pressure recorder mounted below said intake sleeve on the second pipe, valve means in the second pipe to admit fluid pressure to said pressure recorder, and means on the sampling tube operable on longitudinal movement of said tube to open said valve means.

4. In combination with a formation tester, including an intake sleeve, spaced packing means within the sleeve, said sleeve having a hole therein positioned between the packing and extending laterally through the wall of the sleeve, a sampling tube extending into the sleeve and longitudinally slidable therein, said tube having an intake port therein alignable with said hole on longitudinal movement of the tube, a control head, threaded means coupling the sampling tube to said control head, casing wall gripping means, a pipe connected at its ends to said intake sleeve and control head, respectively, said casing wall gripping means being non-rotatably mounted on said pipe and engageable with the surrounding casing to hold the control head and intake sleeve against rotation, said threaded means on the control head imparting longitudinal movement to the tube relative to said head and sleeve on rotation of said head relative to said tube to open and close the hole in the intake sleeve to admit fluid, a second pipe depending from the intake sleeve, a pressure recorder mounted below said intake sleeve on the second pipe, valve means in the second pipe to admit fluid pressure to said pressure recorder, and means on the sampling tube operable on longitudinal movement of said tube to open said valve means, a gun perforator mounted on the second pipe below said pressure recorder and firing means for said gun perforator.

5. In combination with a formation tester,

including an intake sleeve, spaced packing means within the sleeve, said sleeve having a hole therein positioned between the packing and extending laterally through the wall of the sleeve, a sampling tube extending into the sleeve and longitudinally slidable therein, said tube having an intake port therein alignable with said hole on longitudinal movement of the tube, a control head, threaded means coupling the sampling tube to said control head, casing wall gripping means, a pipe connected at its ends to said intake sleeve and control head, respectively, said casing wall gripping means being non-rotatably mounted on said pipe and engageable with the surrounding casing to hold the control head and intake sleeve against rotation, said threaded means on the control head imparting longitudinal movement to the tube relative to said head and sleeve on rotation of said head relative to said tube to open and close the hole in the intake sleeve to admit fluid, a second pipe depending from the intake sleeve, a pressure recorder mounted below said intake sleeve on the second pipe, valve means in the second pipe to admit fluid pressure to said pressure recorder, and means on the sampling tube operable on longitudinal movement of said tube to open said valve means, a gun perforator mounted on the second pipe below said pressure recorder and firing means for said gun perforator, said firing means comprising a contact bar which is dropped into the sampling tube, a contact button engageable by the contact bar and positioned within the sampling tube, a flexible electrical conductor leading from the contact button to the gun perforator, and a battery tube adapted to be lowered into the tester and thence into the sampling tube to engage said contact bar.

6. In combination with a formation tester, in

cluding an intake sleeve, spaced packing means within the sleeve, said sleeve having a hole therein positioned between the packing and extending laterally through the wall of the sleeve, a sampling tube extending into the sleeve and longitudinally slidable therein, said tube having an intake port therein alignable with said hole on longitudinal movement of the tube, a control head, threaded means coupling the sampling tube to said control head, casing wall gripping means, a pipe connected at its ends to said intake sleeve and control head, respectively, said casing wall gripping means being non-rotatably mounted on said pipe and engageable with the surrounding casing to hold the control head and intake sleeve against rotation, said threaded means on the control head imparting longitudinal movement to the tube relative to said head and sleeve on rotation of said head relative to said tube to open and close the hole in the intake sleeve to admit fluid, a second pipe depending from the intake sleeve, a pressure recorder mounted below said intake sleeve on the second pipe, valve means in the second pipe to admit fluid pressure to said pressure recorder, and means on the sampling tube operable on longitudinal movement of said tube to open said valve means comprising a cam on the sampling tube engaging the valve to open the same.

7. In combination with a formation tester, including an intake sleeve, spaced packing means within the sleeve, said sleeve having a hole therein positioned between the packing and extending laterally through the wall of the sleeve, a sampling tube extending into the sleeve and longitudinally slidable therein, said tube having an intake port therein alignable with said hole on longitudinal movement of the tube, a control head, threaded means coupling the sampling tube to said control head, casing wall gripping means, a pipe connected at its ends to said intake sleeve and control head, respectively, said casing wall gripping means being non-rotatably mounted on said pipe and engageable with the surrounding casing to hold the central head and intake sleeve against rotation, said threaded means on the control head imparting longitudinal movement to the tube relative to said head and sleeve on rotation of said head relative to said tube to open and close the hole in the intake sleeve to admit fluid, a second pipe depending from the intake sleeve, a pressure recorder mounted below said intake sleeve on the second pipe, valve means in the second pipe to admit fluid pressure to said pressure recorder, and means on the sampling tube operable on longitudinal movement of said tube to open said valve means, comprising a cam on the sampling tube engaging the valve to open the same, a gun perforator mounted on said second pipe below the pressure recorder and firing means in the sampling tube connected to said perforator.

BOYD R. MCKINLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,169,559 Halliburton Aug. 15, 1939 8 ,323 Brown Jan. 9, 1940 2,189,919 Moore Feb; 13, 1940 2,197,078 McKinley Apr. 16, 1940 2,829 I-Iumason et a1. Nov. 26, 1940 

